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UTC@harbourside wins Sussex Heritage Trust award for design quality

UTC@harbourside wins Sussex Heritage Trust award for design quality

UTC@harbourside’s riverside campus has won a Sussex Heritage Trust Award for the quality and excellence of its design. The Public and Community Building award was presented by the Rt Hon Lord Egremont, DL, President of Sussex Heritage Trust at the trust’s annual awards luncheon at Pangdean Old Barn, Pyecombe on Thursday (7 July).

Award judges praised UTC@harbourside in Newhaven, East Sussex, for ‘providing an inspiring and impressively equipped environment for a school’. The judges noted this as “an outstanding regeneration project of high architectural quality and local historical significance.” Sussex Heritage Awards seek to recognise and reward high quality conservation, restoration and good design of newly built projects and encourage the use of traditional skills and crafts.

The conversion and extension of two 19th century Grade II listed marine and carpenters’ workshops at Railway Quay, Newhaven to house the new UTC was designed by HKS Architects, and built by Kier Construction. Heritage features that have been retained include Victorian brickwork, cast iron pillars and a gantry crane once used to lift locomotive engines. The UTC opened in September 2015 for 14 to 18 year-olds from across Sussex interested in science, technology, engineering, maths and computing. It provides a 21st century learning environment with a fully equipped engineering suite, science super-lab, computer suite and business zone.

Paul Bevan, Chair of Governors at UTC@harbourside said, “This is wonderful recognition for the successful transformation of these prominent and familiar Newhaven buildings for UTC@harbourside. The conversion honours their industrial heritage while providing modern, well-equipped teaching spaces that inspire our students to be the engineers, scientists and innovators of tomorrow. I thank HKS Architects and contractors Kier Construction for doing such a good job and Sussex Heritage Trust for this award.”

Alfonso Padro, Vice President and Director of Education for HKS Architects Ltd, said, “We are delighted with the award. Not only does it recognise the huge challenges to overcome with rejuvenating old buildings but also the hard work and commitment put in by the client, contractor and design team. The uniqueness of the project has allowed us to realise UTC@harbourside’s vision through showcasing the building’s industrial past, aligned with creating a state of the art teaching facility for pioneering engineers of the future.”

Martin Perry, Senior Project Manager, Kier Construction Southern, said, “We’re thrilled to have won this award, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our teams and our collaboration with UTC@harbourside and HKS Architects Ltd. We’re proud to have been involved in the project and to have created effective, quality facilities for teachers and students.”

What is a UTC?

University Technical Colleges (UTCs) teach students technical and scientific subjects to educate the inventors, engineers, scientists and technicians of tomorrow. At UTC@harbourside our focus is on engineering, a real interest in the environment and in creating a sustainable future. The UTC works with leading employers to give students who are motivated by science, maths and computing the real skills and qualifications they need to succeed in the workplace, at university and beyond.